Machine for manufacturing molded pulp articles



Aug. 7, 1945. M. P. CHAPLIN 2,380,942

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING MOLDED PULP ARTICLES Filed larch 18, 1942. 5 Sheets-Sheet l @1, I 4

ITI """""T 5 a? x Q 44 0 6? v. I 40 T 73 7/ a; 2 z 23 J0 Z I 6' JP 1 3 c s S k /4 :I a \N INVENTOR ATTOR Aug. 7, 1945. M. P. CHAPLIN 2,380,942

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING MOLDED PULP ARTICLES Filed March 18, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 III 11 3- N A x &

INVENTOR Merl: F. Cfiqplzn ATTORN Aug. 7, 1945. M. P. CHAPLIN MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING MOLDED PULP ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet. 3

Filed March 18, 1942 MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING MOLDED PULP ARTICLES Filed March 18, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 7, 1945.

M. P. CHAPLIN MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING MOLDED PULP ARTICLES Filed March 18, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 %:ZZX

NVENTOR A/er/e P. (fiapllk ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 7, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE MANUFACTURING MOLDED fromfla byaperlodlerotuflonotthetorminzumt.

The exposed sun-hoe of the pulp deposit preferably seared bytheappheetlouote die. Thlelenotenecesecyputormnetlon themachmmbutlspretmhleenduaemlal hereinafter deecrlhd. oi the formin: dies in hem: drained and, if desired, the amelesurtaceeeared.

Aaecond perlodie 0t the'torming unltbrlnzethearmuponwhtch theaearedmrraeeiesupportedlntoevertleel postflonmuielalinementwlthone rlnrendnniahmgdleetowhleh ten-ed. 'lhe ryinzmdflniehmg ota rlnlunitwhlehhlee floneboutavertlcalaxle: are eqmllyepaced Insular-l7 has a l D-bymmbeaccomplllheddther unhydraullcfllyorbwacombmflenotmh meme.

Suitable air and'vacuum connection; are provldedtothevarloludiemumqmremandthe ggflmlngotthealrandvmum tetheeedieeie lmchromled.

v p perly min: enrel'orr'edot vqithlome meetive mlnyvlrlettcnl-whleh thelnvenflnn.

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Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 ts a sectional elevation of a machine which is made according to and embodies my invention. This section is taken on the line i-l c! Fig. 2; .ilgdisaplanviewoi'themachineshownin Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view oi the machine, thesectionbeingtakenonthelineHoifig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the machine, thesectionbeingtaken onthe lined-4 of Fi 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section showing a iorming die and a searing die in cooperative positions;

Fig.6isasimiiarv1ewotaf0rmin8dieand an pp yi die;

P18. 7 is a similar dryin dies;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the discharge unit. showing one of the printing mechanisms. The section in this figure is taken on the line l-8 of Fig.2;

Fig. 9 is a plan view oi another mechanism for imparting this desired movement to the upper section through a pair of a pin or roller 13 which engages radial slots il in a. disk It which is keyed to a longitudinal shaft Ii mounted in suitable hearings on the base l0 whereby an intermittent rotation is imparted to the shaft ii.

is a hollow housing keyed to shalt It between a stationary suction box 2| and an air pressure box 12. Four hollow arms 23 are shown extending radially from the housing. A greater or less number or such arms may be provided. These arms carry on their ends periorated forming dies 25 which are immersed successively in aliquidpulpmixtureinavat ilinthebase III. At the time one of the rorming dies is immersed in the pulp mixture it is connected through its hollow supporting am It with the suction box ll through suitable ports in a well known manner. The die is brought to rest in this position which in the rat H and some oi the assumes the heater plate by a bolt ll which passes through a central opening it through the heater plate. A gasket 31 under the head or the bolt closes the outer end or the opening 38. The die 3| is forced up to the running die by some suitable means, as by a piston in a hydraulic cylinder I8. Heating and com the outer surface of the article compacts and partially dries a portion of the article forcing the moisture and vapor through the wire screen 21, perforations it into the housing 25 from which they are drawn oiif into the suction box II. The outer surface or the article is thus rendered denser and firmer than of the article and this restricts the escape of fusible and volatile matter therethrough during the final drying operation hereafter described.

pressed the die ter revolution is imparted to bring the arm 23 which bears into a vertical position. It is then in axial alinement with an upper drying die in which is then in the position :1 which it is shown at A in Fig. 2. (See also Fig. 6.) The upper drying dies are supported on arms Ii which extend radially from a. rotatable hollow shaft in and are can to the arms 52. A bracket 53 extends upwardly from carries a roller 54 which (Figs. 1 and i) which determines the radial distones or the upper drying die irom the axis oi the shaft I. Thelower part 0! the shattisa hollow cylindrical body it which rotate the ly shaped post ll of the base iii.

Each upper drying die ismounted as shown in Fig. 6 on a hollow heater plate $0 which comprises a chamber Ii into which steam or other heating medium may be admitted through a pipe 02. In this case a flexible pipe 68 is connected with a radial assage which leads to the central o ening 64, and passages ii in die I interconnect the opening 64 with an annular ge n in the die which in turn is in communication with the race or the die through openings 43 which may be in the form or radial slots.

when the forming die 25 and the upper dryin die are in axial alinement in the position A oi Fig. 2, the upper dryin die is moved down onto it, 28 The bodyo! this! dieisaccuthearticleontheiormingdie,asshownin1 ig.6, mis wm o p oi es fl by somesuitablesuchasapistonin cle and covered with a fine mesh wire cloth 2! a, hydraulic cylinder is. The article is then clampedto the housing at I. which allows water am t t u er drying dieby admitting or other liquid to pass through oration! l air under ressure into the iorming die through inthebody,leavlngalayeroithepuipiiber thehollowarmflandapplvingapartialvacuum onmemdflm to the upper drying die through the pipe It. A inetydegreerotatlonisthenhnpatt to Thentheupwrdryi sdieflisraisedbythe the shaft it in an anti-clockwise direction as istonincylinder ll. Thisoperationtakesplace viewedinliimk 'lhisbringaanothcriormins o whilethe-shai'tilisatrest. dieintothe'vatii'gndmovesthearmoithedie .A artialrotationisthenimpartedtotbeshait flrstdescribedintoahoriaontlipoaitlonandinto lllbyacenevagearwhich comprisesanarm axialtwithaheatodsearlnsdiefl.- onashattwhichiseonnectedtothedriveshait Thedietlhasa mrlacell(rig.slwhichis iibygearsllandwhichearriesapinorroller shapedtoconiormtothearticleontheiormins B5 whichrunsintoslctsli onadiskll amxedto dieandismangedto-wmprelmdheatthe tbeshaitsl. surIaceotthematsfll-ionit. 'lhedieliis: This artialrotatlonandthe srtielretraction mountedonahoilowheaterplctellwhichis eflectedbytberollerandcamtrackbringsthe 'made accordin to the oi my patent upperdryingdie intothe position inwhiehitis flojmfijltimiedduilllmJowhichstalm 70 shown atBinl 'lg. 2. Inthis position it is in or other medium may admitte amalalinementwithalowerdrying diellona through apipetithronghwhichthe heaterplste II. The heater plates iorthelower mlyrun lil'lllllmflirmll dryingdiesaresupportedonrlgidbrackets I! await; hs shminthedrawingflthissearwhichextend radially iromtheshait II. Ilisa in dieishnpertcrate. 'rhedieisattachedt 7 pipe iorieadingsteamtotheseheater plates.

the seared article is mounted to p to form small ribs on the finished article and giveit a distinct and attractive appearance.

The drying dies remain in this position with the article compressed between them during subsequent rotational steps of the drying unit. If desired, a vacuum may be applied to the lower drying die during this period. When the drying dies reach the position C (Fig. 2), the upper drying die is raised with the article on it. During the next rotational step, from the position C to the position D, the upper drying die is moved outwardly beyond its complementary lower drying die by thecam 55, and is then forced downwardly to one of the dies III of the discharge unit. There are four of these dies mounted on hollowshafts Bl extending radially from a shaftv 82 to which an intermittent rotation is imparted in synchronism with the forming and drying units by mechanism not shown. Air and vacuum may be applied to the dies III in the manner described in connection with the forming unit. After the article has been transferred from the upper dryingdie onto a discharge unit die, the upper drying die is raised and then rotated to the position A (Fig. 2), over a forming die. During this rotational movement the die 8li with the article on it is rotated to the position "A. Here it may be printed.

For the purpose of printing, a die 83 may be reciprocated by a piston in a cylinder 84. Inklng rolls is are reciprocated between the die 83 and an inking pad I6 by a piston in a. cylinder 81. When the die 80 reaches the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, it may be printed again, inking rollers and an inking pad being shown at 85A and USA.

other, one of said dies of each pair being arranged to receive a wet formed articlewhile out of axial alinement with its mating die, said moving means being arranged to return the dies into axial alinement, and means for imparting relative axial movement to the dies to compress the wet article between them.

'2. A pulp molding machine comprising a shaft.

means for imparting a. step-by-step rotation Each discharge die I. is pivoted to its respective arm III at Ill and when an arm reaches such a position as that shown at 8lc in Fig. 8, its die is turned over as shown at "C and the article drops off of it. A'conveyor I! may be provided to carry thev article away from the machine.

In Fig. 9 the upperdrying dies and the cylinders which vertical movement 'to them are mounted on tracks 00 which are parts of the rotary drying unit and. guide these diving dies radially. Cylinders" which are mounted radi ally on the shaft contain pistons which are connected with the upper drying dies by rods 92. Byintroducing a fluid into the ,cylinders Ii at times properly synchronized with the movements of the machines, the upper drying dies are moved radially into and out of register with their complementary lower drying dies.

Other modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention and I intend no limitations other than those imposed by the appended claims. It is obvious that this application discloses a novel method which is not claimed and the right to his a divisional application to cover it is reserved;

What I claim is:

1; A pulp molding machine comprising a shaft,

means for imparting a step-hy-step rotation thereto, a plurality of pairs of drying dies mounted on the shaft in ansularly spaced relation and rotating with the shaft, means for imparting a relative lateral movement to the dies of each pair to put them out of axial alinement with each thereto, a plurality of pairs of drying dies mounted on the shaft in angularly spaced relation and rotating with the shaft, means for imparting a relative lateral movement to the dies of each pair to put them out of axial alinement with each other, one of said dies of each pair being arranged to receive a wet formed article while out of axial alinement with its mating die, said movingmeans being arranged to return the dies into axial alinement. means for imparting relative axial movement to the dies to compress the wet article between them and for separating the dies,

and means for discharging the article while the dies are out of axial alinement. V V

3, A pulp molding machine comprising a shaft, means for imparting a step-by-step rotation thereto, a plurality of pairs of drying dies mounted on the shaft in angularly spaced relation and revolving with the shaft, the diesof each pair being arranged to move in a common path in axial alinement with each other during a substantial portion of the rotating cycle of the shaft, means for imparting a relative lateral movement to the dies of each pair to put them out of axial alinement with each other during another portion of the rotating cycle of the shaft, one of the dies of each pair being arranged to receive a wet formed article while out of alinement with its mating die, said moving means being arranged to return the dies into axial alinement. and means for imparting relative axial movement to the dies to maintain the artlcle between them under compression during said substantial portion of the rotating cycle of the shaft.

4. A pulp molding machine comprising a shaft, means for imparting a step-bv-step rotation thereto, a plurality of pairs'oi drying dies mounted on the shaft in angularly spaced relation and revolving with the shaft, the dies of each pair being arranged to move in a common path in axial alinement with each other during a substantial portion of the rotating cycle of the shaft, means for imparting a relative lateral movement to the dies of each pair to put them out of axial alinement with each other during another portion of .the rotating cycle of the shaft, one .of the dies of each pair being arranged to receive a wet formed article while out of alinement with its mating die, said moving means being arranged to return the dies into axial alinement, means for imparting relative axial movement to the dies to maintain the article between them under compression during said substantial portion of the rotating cycle of the shaft and for separating the dies, and means for discharging the article while the dies are out of axial alinement.

5. A pulp molding machine comprising a shaft, means for imparting a step-by-step rotation thereto, a first series of drying dies and a. second series oi complementary drying dies mounted on the shaft in angularly spaced relation and rotating with the shaft, one of said series being connected with the shaft to travel in a circular path, means for guiding the other series of dies in the same circular path during a substantial portion of the rotating cycle oi the shaft in axial for imparting relative axial movement to the complementary dies when the dies are in axial alinement to maintain the article between them under compression while the dies move in the circular path.

6. A pulp molding machine comprising a shaft,

,means' for imparting 'a step-by-step rotation thereto, a series of upper drying dies and a like series of lower drying dies mounted on the shaft in angularly spaced relation and rotating with the shaft, said lower series being connected with the shaft to travel in a circular path, means for guiding the upper series of dies in the same circular path during a substantial portion of the rotating cycle of the shaft in axial alinement with the lower series of dies and for guiding the upper series of dies laterally out of said circular path during another portion of the rotating cycle of the shaft, each of the dies of the upper series being arranged to receive a wet formed article when it is out of said circular path, said guiding means being arranged to return the dies into axial alinement and means for imparting an axial movement to an upper die which has received a wet formed article toward a lower die when the dies are in axial alinement to maintain the article between said dies under compression while the dies move in the circular path.

7. A pulp molding machine comprising a shaft, means for imparting a step-by-step rotation thereto, a, first series of drying dies and a second series of complementary drying dies mounted'on the shaft in angularly spaced relation and rotating with the shaft, one of said series being connected with the shaft to travel in a circular path, means for guiding the other series of dies in the same circular path during a substantial portion of the rotating cycle of the shaft in axial alinement with the complementary series of dies laterally and for guiding said other series of dies out of and into said circular path during another portion of the rotating cycle of the shaft, each of the dies of one of said series of drying dies being arranged to receive a wet formed article when it is out of said circular path, said guiding means being arranged to return the dies into axial alinement and means for imparting relative axial movement to complementary dies when said dies are in axial alinement to maintain the article between them under compression while the dies move in the circular path and for separating the dies, and means for discharging the article when they are out of said circular path.

8. A pulp molding machine comprising a shaft, means for imparting a step-by-step rotation thereto, a series of upper drying dies and a complementary s'eriesof lower drying dies mount: ed on the shaft in angular y spaced relation and rotating with the shaft, said lower series being connected withthe shaft to travel in a circular path, means for guiding the upper series 01' dies in the same circular path during a substantial portion of the rotating cycle of the shaft in axial alinement with the lower series of dies and for guiding the upper series of dies laterally out of said circular path during another portion of the rotating cycle of the shaft, each of the dies of the upper series being arranged to receive a wet formed article when it is out of said circular path, said guiding means being arranged to return the dies into axial alinement, means for imparting an axial movement to an upper die which have received a wet formed article, toward a lower die when said dies are in axial alinement to maintain the article between them under compression while the dies move in the circular path and separating the dies, and means for discharging the article when they are out of said circular path.

9. A pulp molding machine comprising a shaft, means for imparting a step-by-step rotation thereto, a plurality of pairs of drying dies mounted on the shaft in angularly spaced relation and rotating with the shaft, means for imparting a relative movement to the dies of each pair to put them out of axial alinement with each other, a plurality of forming dies, one of each pair of said drying dies being arranged to receive a wet formed article from a forming die while out of axial alinement with its mating drying die, 5 id moving means being arranged to return th drying dies into axial alinement, and means for imparting relative axial movement to said driving dies to compress the wet article between them.

10. A pulp molding machine comprising a shaft, means for imparting a step-by-step rotation thereto, a plurality of pairs of drying dies mounted on the shaft in angularly spaced relation and rotating with the shaft, means for imparting a relative movement tothe dies of each pair to put them out of axial alinement with each other, a plurality of forming dies and a transfer die, one of each pair of said drying dies being arranged to receive a wet formed article from a forming die while out of axial alinement with its mating drying die, said moving means being arranged to return said drying dies into axial alinement, means for imparting relative axial movement to said drying dies to compress the wet article between them and for separating the dies, and means for discharging the article onto the transfer die while the dies are out of axial alinement.

11. A pulp molding machine comprising a. shaft, means for imparting a step-by-step rotation thereto, a plurality of pairs of drying dies mounted on the shaft in angularly spaced relation and rotating with the shaft, means for imparting a relative movement to said drying dies of each pair to put them out of axial alinement with each other, a plurality of forming dies, 9. searing die, means for moving the searing die against and away from an article on one of the forming dies, one of said drying dies being arranged to receive a seared article from a forming die while out of axial alinement with its mating drying die, said moving means being arranged to return the drying dies into axial alinement, and means for imparting relative axial movement to said drying dies to compress the article between them.

12. A pulp molding machine comprising a shaft, means for imparting a step-by-step rotation thereto, a plurality of pairs of drying dies mounted on the shaft in angularly spaced rela tion and rotating with the shaft, means for imparting a relative movement to the dies of each pair to put them out of axial alinement with each other, a plurality of forming dies, a scaring die, means for moving the searing die against 2,330,942 and away from articles on the forming dies in succession, a transfer die, one of each' pair of said drying dies being arranged to receive a seared article from a forming die while out of axial alinement with its mating drying die, said moving means being arranged to return the drying dies into axial alinement, means for imparting relative axial movement to said drying dies to compress the article between them and for separating the dies, means for discharging the article onto the transfer die while the drying dies are out of axial alinement, and means for discharging the article from the transfer die.

13. A pulp molding machine comprising a forming unit shaft carrying a series of foraminous dies for suction formation of wet molded pulp articles, a drying unit shaft angularly disposed in relation to the forming unit shaft carrying a series of pairs of heated complementary drying dies in an arcuate path offset from the path of movement of the forming dies, adapted to compress a wet article therebetween'and dry same under heat and mechanical pressure, a transfer die offset from the arcuate path of movement of the forming dies and from the arcuate path of movement of the drying dies, means for imparting a step-by-step rotation to said shafts to move the dies thereon from position to position with stationary intervals between said movements, means for moving one of each pair of drying dies into axial alinement with a forming die, back into axial alinement with its complementary drying die and out of its arcuate path into axial alinement with the transfer die, and means for bringing said last mentioned drying die successively into and out of coactive relation with said forming die, its complementary drying die and the transfer die.

14. A pulp molding machine comprising a forming unit shaft carrying a series of foraminous dies for suction formation of wet molded pulp articles, a drying unit shaft angularly disposed in relation to the forming unit shaft carrying a series of pairs of heated complementary drying dies in an arcuate path offset from the path of movement of the forming dies, adapted to compress a wet article therebetween and dry same under heat and mechanical pressure, a

transfer die offset from movement of the forming dies and from the arcuate path of movement of the drying dies, means for imparting a step-by-step rotation to said shafts to move the dies thereon from position to position with stationary intervals between said movements, means for moving one of each pair of drying dies into axial alinement with a forming die, back into axial alinement with its complementary drying die and out of its arcuate path into axial alinement with the transfer die, means for bringing said last mentioned drying die successively into and out of coactive relation with said forming die, its complementary drying die and the transfer die, means for effecting the transfer of a wet formed article from a forming die to the drying die which is in axial alinement therewith. and means for effecting the transfer of a dried article from said one of the drying dies to the transfer die.

15. A pulp molding machine comprising a forming unit shaft carrying a series of foraminous dies for suction formation of wet molded pulp articles, a drying unit shaft angularly disposed in relation to the forming unit shaft carrying a series of pairs of heated complementary the arcuate path of drying dies'in an arcuate path offset from the path of movement of the forming dies, said drying dies being adapted to compress a wet article therebetween and dry same under heat and mechanical pressure, a transfer die offset from the arcuate path of movement of the forming dies and from the arcuate path of movement of the drying dies, means for imparting a step-by-step V rotation to said shafts to move the dies thereon from position to position with stationary inter- I vals between said movements, means for moving one of each pair of drying dies into axial alinement with a forming die, back into axial alinement with its complementary drying die and out of its arcuate path into axial alinement with the transfer die, means for bringing said last mentioned drying die successively into and out of coactive relat on with said forming die, its complementary (.18 and the transfer die, means for eflecting the transfer of a wet formed article from a forming die to the drying die which is in axial alinement therewith, means for effecting the transfer of a dried article from said one of the drying dies to the transfer die, and means for discharging the article from the transfer die.

16. A pulp molding machine comprising a forming unit shaft carrying a series of foraminous dies for suction formation of wet molded pulp articles, a drying unit shaft angularly disposed in relation to the forming unit shaft carrying a series of pairs of heated complementary drying dies in an arcuate path offset from the path of movement of the forming dies, adapted to compress a wet article therebetween and dry sameunder heat and mechanical pressure, a transfer die oflset from the arcuate-path of movement of the forming dies and from the arcuate path of movement of the drying dies, means for imparting a step-by-step rotation to said shafts to move the dies thereon from position to position with stationary intervals between said movements, means for moving one of each pair of drying dies into axial alinement with a forming die, back into axial alinement with its complementary drying die and out of its arcuate path into axial alinement with the transfer die, means for bringing said last mentioned drying die successively into and out of coactive relation with said forming die, its complementary drying die and the transfer die, means for effecting the transfer of a wet formed article from a forming die to the drying die which is in axial alinement therewith, means for effecting the transfer of a dried article from said one of the drying dies to the transfer die, means for treating the article while it is on the transfer die.

and means for discharging the article from the dies corresponding in number and angular spacing to said upper drying dies, means for rotating said shaft step-by-step, means for placing wet formed articles-on said upper drying dies, means for coacting each upper drying die with a wet article thereon with its complemental lower dry ing die during a substantial portion of the rotating cycle of said shaft to dry the article between said pair of drying dies under heat and longitary step-by-step forming unit shaft carrying a series of ioraminous forming dies for the suction formation of wet molded pulp articles. an inter-,

mittently rotating drying unit shaft having its axis of rotation disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation 01 said first named shaft and carrying a series of spaced upper drylng die with the wet article thereon to coast with its mating dryim die to thereby dry the article between said pair of drying dies under heat and mechanical pressure, means for subsequently discharging the dried article from one of said drying dies and means for relatively displacing the reciprocally mounted die laterally out of alinement with its mating drying die during the period in which the I'BCiPI'Oi sting drying die is removing a wet article from a forming die and at the time it is discharging a dri d article.

20. The machine of claim 19 in which the means for subsequently discharging the dried article from the reciprocatory drying die comprises a transfer die pivotally mounted relative to the reciprocatory drying die to receive the dried article from the reciprocatory drying die, and

means for swinging said transfer die to a posiing dies and a complements] series of lower drying dies corresponding in number and angular spacing to the upper drying dies; a series of ioraminous transfer dies for receiving and ejecting dried articles from the machine, means for rotating said shafts step-by-step in'synchronism to bring the forming dies and the transfer dies into coactive alinement with the upper drying dies for the successive transfer of wet articles from said forming dies to said upper drying dies and dried articles from said upper drying dies to said transfer dies, means for successively imparting coacting lateral movements to each upper drying die first to coact said upper drying die with a forming die while said dies are at rest in their revolution about the axis of the drying unit shaft for transferring a wet article to the upper die and then to coact said upper drying die h its complements-flower drying die for drying the article under continuous heat, pressure and vacuum between said drying dies for a substantial portion of the rotating cycle of said drying unitshaft and subsequently to ooact said upper drying die with a transfer die while said dies are at. rest ihtheir revolution, for transferring the dried article from the upper drying die 1 to a transfer die, and means for relatively displacingthe dryingdiessothat oneisoutofthe path of the reciprocal movement or the other die during the period in which the reciprocating drying die is removing a wet article from a forming :fiie 15d is transferring a dried article to a transer e.

19. A pulp molding machine comprising a rotary step-by-step forming unit shaft, a ioraminous forming die for the suction formation or a said shaftsstep-by-st'epin synchronismwith othertobrlngtheformingdieandcueof dies into or coactive alinewitheachothenmeansoperativewhileboth shaftsareatreshror successively impartrcciprocatingtooneoisoiddrycausesaiddietocoactwithsoid thereby transferawet articleto dryingdieandtoeausesoid dry- FEE;

tion for ejecting the dried article from the machine.

21. A pulp molding machine comprising a rotary step-by-step forming unit shaft, a foraminous forming die for the suction formation of a wet molded pulp article mounted on and revoluble with said shaft, a rotary step-by-step drying unit shaft mounted adjacent to but independently of said forming unit shaft angularly disposed in relation to the forming unit shaft, a plurality of pairs of drying dies complements] in size and shape mounted on and revoluble with said drying unit shaft, atransfer unit shaft having transfer dies mounted thereon for receiving a dried article from one of the drying dies and electing it from the machine, means for rotating all of said shafts step-by-step in synchronism with each other to bring a forming die and a transfer die into positions of coactive axial alinement with two of the drying dies, means operative while all shafts are at rest for imparting reciprocating movements .01 said two drying dies to cause one of said dies to eoact with said formin die to transfer a wet article to said drying die, thereafter to cause the drying die with a wet article thereon to onset with its mating drying die to thereby dry the article between said dies under heat and mechanical pressure and finally to cause the drying die with the article thereon to coact with a transfer die to transfer the article to said transfer die for election from the machine. and means for relatively displacing one of the drying dies of each pair from axial alinement with its oomplemental die so that one is out or the path of reciprocation of the other during the periods in which the reciprocating dryingdieisremovingawetarticlefmmarorming'dieoristransferrlngadriedarticletoa transfer die. V

22.!hemachine of claimfll inwhichthe means for the drying dies comprises adiecarrierlaterallymovableinrespecttothe dryingshaft. a cam roll carried by said die carrieasndaflxedcamracewithwhichsaidcam I 1'01! connects.

WP. CHAPLIN. 

